Thread: Ain't no turnin back now

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Started the transformation 2day.
No turnin back now.
Took off the UGLY short 4 bars, cut off the brackets and fabbe sun new 1's for the long hairpins.
Also pulled out the very hi$ bench seat,as the was no head/leg room for me.
Especially after it gets the RODWELL windshield and top.
Had a set of cut down Fiero buckets in stock.
Built some mounts, stuffed them in and gained 5 1/2 " headroom and 4" leg room.
Will pop the seats out Monday and get em recovered to match the killer interior already in the car
Gonna definately be a comfortable left lane cruiser

Don't look back when you're on the right track ! Especially if it creates comfort ! Be sure and post the pics of the new upholstery when your buckets are back in, OK?

Em

Hit it hard 4 bout 5 hrs yesterday.
Hood, doors, and dash off and ready 4 paint.
Gutted the interior and fit the Rodwell windshirld stanchions
Sure wish I had ordered the SPI black earlier, could of started shootin 2day.
Oh well will get the body set up to paint and do it all this weekend

Lots of work blowing one apart, but gotta say a roadster looks lots easier than a coupe, for sure! It'll be looking good in some new shiny black before long. Thanks for posting.

Wow you don't mess around!! Do you notice any difference in handling going from 4 bar to hairpin?(I have 4 bar and would like to change to hairpin or split wishbone) Thanks Pete

Ya know there's serious work going on when there's TWO big hammers in one pic.................

Originally Posted by prpmmp

Wow you don't mess around!! Do you notice any difference in handling going from 4 bar to hairpin?(I have 4 bar and would like to change to hairpin or split wishbone) Thanks Pete

Pete, Why mess around, just like to get the job done, not talk about it.
Not much differance in handling, I just think 4 bars look like sh&t on a hiboy

Originally Posted by DA34GUY

Not much differance in handling, I just think 4 bars look like sh&t on a hiboy

From the history I've read the 4-bar came to exist to eliminate changes in caster as the front end traveled through it's range, using the parallelogram action to keep the axle in the same vertical relationship and eliminating bump steer with the old school steering box connected all on the driver's side. The use of a Vega style cross steering arrangement eliminates the concern with bump steer with changes in caster, so one should not see any difference in handling from the minor change in caster as the suspension travels. It becomes a preference for the "look" that one wants, and I agree that long hairpins give a cool look to a highboy.

Originally Posted by rspears

From the history I've read the 4-bar came to exist to eliminate changes in caster as the front end traveled through it's range, using the parallelogram action to keep the axle in the same vertical relationship and eliminating bump steer with the old school steering box connected all on the driver's side. The use of a Vega style cross steering arrangement eliminates the concern with bump steer with changes in caster, so one should not see any difference in handling from the minor change in caster as the suspension travels. It becomes a preference for the "look" that one wants, and I agree that long hairpins give a cool look to a highboy.

Hey!! I was also going to use a F1 box instead of the cross steering,so I may have a problem with bump steer? Pete

Originally Posted by prpmmp

Hey!! I was also going to use a F1 box instead of the cross steering,so I may have a problem with bump steer? Pete

If you use a F1 box, or any box that connects to a steering arm on the driver's side then bump steer is a bigger concern, yes. Cross steering eliminates most of the issues provided you keep things aligned right. I would think you'd want to use the 4-bar setup to eliminate caster change if you do the driver's side connection.

To eliminate bump steer you need the length of the arms(hairpin, 4 link or split wishbone) to be length so pivot is equal to the link from steering box to the left spindle----

Hey Jerry! Is this correct? IMG_NEW.jpg Photo by ppmefc | Photobucket My drawing sucks!! Pete

yep---that's the idea--------

Originally Posted by jerry clayton

yep---that's the idea--------

Great!! Thanks Pete

Update :
It's all ready 2 paint.
Will clean out the booth in the am, shove all the small parts in
and probably shoot sealer and base on Saturday, clear on Sunday.
Then a road trip to Louisiana (maybe anutter 32 in the works?)
Roll the body in when I get back and do the trigger dance on it.
I did bag the engine and shot the firewall SPI Matte Black. Had to paint sumthin.